Loose Reins On Nurses In Drug Abuse Program

ProPublica:

Over 4 1/2 years, Melony Currier had been discovered high in her car at a Hollywood hospital, stolen anesthetics at a San Gabriel Valley hospital, been convicted of burglary after taking more drugs from the same hospital and flunked a drug test.

Yet it wasn't until Currier shot up at the drug-testing facility in September 2006 that she was kicked out of the recovery program. Though her evaluators labeled her a "public risk," the California Board of Registered Nursing didn't impose discipline until 1 1/2 years later, leaving her free her to work without restriction in the interim, the documents show.

Read the whole story: ProPublica

Comments

[reverence]

Someone needs to look into the nurses at BRG in Louisiana.

[gialla]

I was in a hospital once and had received a huge box of hazelnut chocolates as a gift. I offered some to my nurses. As one was eating some she told me she was allergic to nuts. When I asked her why she was eating them she said not to worry she would just give herself a shot.

[aznurse]

I believe the Nursing Boards vary from state to state.
Nurses that think their co-workers are impaired should report it. They do have anonymous hot lines here. and least in hospitals.
we are encouraged to report dr's too.

[glomtt]

Addict is an addict, can't help them unless they want the help.

[glomtt]

Yeah, I just read a story in Michigan newspaper about addicted nurses. They go into programs because they got caught, not because they want to change their behavior. You can't force an addict into rehab, they have to want it themselves.

[ObamaSheeple]

Yeah, I'm sure it's a problem but they don't mention (I only read half though) physicians and their drug usage. I'm not just talking about opiods/opiates but SSRIs, anti-psychotics and other drugs. If they were required to give a blood sample before surgery, you would be surprised at the stuff running through their systems.